UPDATE

COUNTY TO RE-PAY COMPTROLLER’S OFFICE – Wise County is faced with paying back more than half a million dollars in sales tax to the state Comptroller’s office. The county was notified that it would be required to pay the state $639,000 due to an overpayment of taxes by a local business. On Monday, county commissioners approved County Attorney James Stainton finalizing a plan with the Comptroller’s office to make monthly payments, interest-free, for 15 years. The county averages $300,000 to $400,000 per month in sales tax collections, and approximately $9,000 will be taken off the top of that amount each month.

MOTORCYCLIST INJURED IN WRECK – A man from St. Joseph, Mo., was flown to a Metroplex hospital after losing control of his motorcycle and slamming into the guard rail in Decatur Monday afternoon. Investigators believe Ira Skirlock, 67, was westbound on U.S. 380 when he attempted to exit onto northbound U.S. 81/287. “He was going a little too fast on dead man’s curve,” Decatur Police Chief Rex Hoskins said. Skirlock lost control of his motorcycle, which slid into the guard rail. He was wearing a helmet. The extent of his injuries were not known. Medic 1 transported the victim to Wise Regional Health System in Decatur, where Lifeteam 68 was waiting to transport him to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. In addition to Wise County medics, Decatur police and fire departments responded to the wreck, which was toned out around 3 p.m.

RAINFALL DEFICIT CONTINUES – May is typically the wettest month of the year in Wise County. Someone must have forgotten to tell that to the clouds, however, as the rainfall deficit continued to worsen last month. The average rainfall amount for May is 5.39 inches, but Wise County saw close to a record low for the month with only 1.85 inches, according to weather watcher Doyle Green of Decatur. Rainfall amounts have below normal every month so far this year, and total rainfall for the first five months of the year is only 7.86 inches. Temperatures in the month ranged from a high of 92 on May 4 to a low of 42 on May 1.

SWIM TEAM – The Bridgeport Parks and Recreation swim team will practice 10 to 11:40 a.m. Tuesday through Friday this summer. Participants will compete in four circuit meets and regionals. Cost is $80. To register, call 940-683-3480.

CEMETERY HOMECOMING – Sweetwater Cemetery homecoming is Sunday. Preaching starts at 11, followed by lunch and a business meeting.

DECATUR CARES KICKOFF – The Decatur Cares summer feeding program will have a kickoff at 6:30 tonight at the Decatur ISD administration building (next to Learning Ladder) for those who are participating. Distribution will begin next Tuesday.

SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT – The Decatur Police Department and the Decatur Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association are accepting team registration and sponsorship forms for the 2nd Annual Back The Blue coed softball tournament to be held Saturday, June 28, at Renshaw Park in Decatur. Call the Decatur Police Department at 940-393-0300 for information. Proceeds go to a scholarship fund for Decatur High School students.

FUNERALS – Services for Maxine Thorell-Griffin, 86, of Rhome and Ila Sue Reed, 90, of Decatur are pending at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur.

FUNERAL for Hazel L. Sherman, 89, formerly of Decatur is 10 a.m. Thursday at Coker-Hawkins Funeral Home with burial at Pleasant Grove No. 1 Cemetery. Family visitation is 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

NO SERVICE is scheduled for Ronnie Gerhart, 75, of Chico. Hawkins Funeral Home in Bridgeport is handling arrangements.